Chapter 2
In the midst of the audience panicking and fleeing in all directions—
"Wh-what the hell!"
"A gate?!"
"Fuck!"
—the host turned to me.
"Mr. Kim Siwoo!"
It was a natural reaction since I was the only hunter present, but I couldn't help freezing at the sight of the portal.
That's...!
It wasn't a gate.
It was exactly like the one I'd ridden back to the modern world...
Clack, clack.
The moment I spotted the figure stepping out from within, I bolted in the opposite direction and hid behind the stage.
"H-hey! Mr. Kim Siwoo?!"
The host's startled reaction.
Peeking out from my hiding spot, I watched as the one who had finally emerged from the portal revealed her full form.
"......"
A woman with white hair and light purple eyes, dressed in black robes.
The Jet-Black Priestess who had been in charge of me in that other world had arrived here.
"Siwoo-nim."
She looked at the stunned host and asked,
"Where is he?"
"P-pardon?"
"Tell me quickly. Before I leave nothing but your skull behind."
"O-over there!"
The terrified host pointed right at where I was hiding.
Swoosh.
The moment her gaze turned my way, one realization hit me.
I'm screwed.
My returnee life would never be smooth sailing.
*
The Jet-Black Priestess.
The kingdom of Kshatenia, where I'd been summoned, worshipped the god of night.
Its priests revered darkness and always wore black garments, earning them the title of Jet-Black Priests.
And among them, the one with the greatest power and authority was Jenia, who had been in charge of me.
"Siwoo-nim."
Now she stood right before me.
I couldn't say a word.
I had countless questions—how she'd come here, what she was thinking as she looked at me now—but they all tangled into pure chaos.
Above all, I'd left her behind in that other world.
What reaction could I possibly have in a situation like this?
"Siwoo-nim...!"
But she seemed to have already decided what to do.
"You're safe!"
Thud!
She threw herself into my arms, wrapping both arms around me tightly.
As her long hair settled back into place, it released a rich floral fragrance.
"J-Jenia."
"You have no idea how worried I was! Even after you returned to your original world, I couldn't stop thinking—what if it's dangerous for Siwoo-nim there too? I was going mad...!"
It was truly an absurd line.
All I'd told her was what Earth had been like before I was summoned: a place with monsters and hunters.
Unlike that other world, it maintained some balance of peace.
She's jumping to conclusions on her own again, huh.
Jenia's way of thinking was a bit different from mine.
What I saw as fine, she judged as a threat to me.
But that wasn't important right now.
What do I do?
I had no idea how to handle this woman burrowing into my embrace.
I didn't even know how she'd gotten here in the first place.
"Um, Jenia."
My heart pounded wildly at the unexpected situation, but I clung to my wits and asked her,
"How did you get here?"
"Pardon?"
"The magic stone from the Demon King only had enough power to send one person to another world."
That stone had vanished after creating a one-person portal for me.
Since the portal disappeared when I crossed to Earth, the one Jenia had used must be something entirely different.
"That's... a secret for now."
She dodged the question.
"You don't need to know right away, do you?"
As she said it, she looked up at me.
Tear tracks stained her face.
Gulp.
I swallowed dryly.
For now, I had to navigate this situation as smoothly as possible.
"L-let's get out of here first."
The host was watching us from not far away.
I couldn't drag him into this when I didn't even fully understand what was happening.
Besides, leaving Jenia here any longer might lead to who-knows-what.
"Where to?"
She tilted her head questioningly, and I answered,
"My house."
*
My house wasn't far from the broadcasting station.
A villa building.
Upon entering my 600-square-foot haven, Jenia looked around in wonder.
"So this is Siwoo-nim's home."
I'd explained houses, living conditions, and various aspects of Earth life back in the other world, but this was the first time she'd seen it with her own eyes.
Thank goodness it was walkable; if we'd needed transportation, things would've been even messier.
"...Siwoo-nim?"
She spoke as she noticed my stiff expression.
"Are you all right?"
All right? As if.
I remember everything about how you were at the end.
When I said I was going back, Jenia fell apart.
She pleaded that she couldn't live properly without me.
When I still wouldn't change my mind, she got angry.
What had all our time together meant? Was it all fake?
It wasn't all fake.
Not entirely.
That place was hellish, but I'd adapted with her help.
My kindness toward her wasn't just mechanical.
Back then, I genuinely wanted to do something for her, to soothe her unstable heart.
But that was it.
It wasn't a place for me to settle.
I'd been dragged there against my will, and I could only return home after completing my mission.
Our bond was close, but destined to end someday.
That's what I'd barely severed and escaped from.
I never imagined she'd track me down like this.
Relentlessly.
The Hunter Association will find out soon too.
How was I supposed to explain this?
My vision darkened.
"Don't worry. Just sit on the sofa over there for a bit, okay?"
I pointed to the small sofa in the living room.
She nodded and sat down.
"It's so clean, even though you haven't been here in ages."
That had surprised me too when I returned to Earth.
Turned out a colleague who'd visited often had believed I'd come back and kept the place maintained.
I was deeply grateful and planned to repay them somehow, but now with Jenia here, even that was up in the air.
"Someone was taking care of it for me."
"Not a woman, I hope?"
Jenia turned to me at my words.
I gave an awkward smile.
"Wait a sec. I got some dust on me earlier; just gonna wash my face."
With that, I slipped into the bathroom.
Whoosh.
I turned on the water and stared at my reflection in the mirror.
This is insane, for real.
I looked like I'd aged several years in an instant.
Honestly, the moment I saw Jenia, I'd wanted to scream in shock, but I'd held it in—thank god.
I couldn't predict how she'd react if I had.
Whew.
Jenia was the high priestess who'd summoned me personally.
Through our journey together, she'd developed a strong attachment and unwavering trust in me.
Parting from her had been an agonizing process.
When I opened the portal home, she'd begged me to stay in that world.
Even more desperately.
Of course, I refused.
She'd already been breaking down since I first said I'd return after finishing everything, but when I finally stood firm, she shattered completely.
Her face held every emotion: love, anger, feelings that seemed impossible to coexist.
Did I have no desire at all to stay? Not entirely.
But I couldn't.
I desperately wanted to go back to Earth.
So, ruthlessly, forcibly, I bid her farewell and stepped through the portal.
And yet,
How am I supposed to face her now?
I never dreamed I'd see her again.
I hadn't even imagined it.
Back then, I just didn't want to.
Returning to where I belonged was my only goal.
I splashed cold water on my face.
It calmed me a little.
Forcing composure, I returned to the living room.
"Jenia."
There she was, right where I'd left her, as if it were a dream—or rather, proof it wasn't.
Even in the other world, she'd always stayed close.
Never leaving my side.
"Yes, Siwoo-nim."
As I looked at her smile, I opened my mouth.
"Did you... come here for good?"
I had to confirm if this was a temporary fluke or the start of ongoing torment.
With a trembling voice, careful not to let my feelings slip—ever so careful—I asked,
"Or can you only stay a little while?"